Final answer:
Initially, the United States was not prepared for WW1, maintaining a neutral stance. As the war affected American interests, the U.S. mobilized by drafting men, raising funds, rationing, and swaying public opinion. Despite challenges, such as the segregation of African American troops, the U.S. managed to prepare for effective participation by 1917.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the outset of World War I, the United States was not fully prepared for the conflicts ahead. Initially adopting a stance of neutrality under President Woodrow Wilson, the country intended to avoid entanglement in European wars. However, as the war escalated and affected American interests, the U.S. government took significant steps to mobilize the nation for war.
The United States had to secure a considerable number of men through the Selective Service Act, raise money through bonds and taxes, ration food and supplies, and institute measures to ensure efficient production of goods necessary for wartime. The government also created the Committee on Public Information to sway popular opinion in favor of joining the war. These efforts were crucial in overcoming the initial lack of military preparedness and public ambivalence towards entering WW1.
Though the U.S. had a significant industrial capacity, its military had to undergo rapid expansion and training. It also needed to ensure that African Americans, who were segregated and often relegated to menial roles within the military, could contribute effectively to the war effort. The steps taken by the government illustrate a substantial effort to prepare a nation for war, rising from a state of unpreparedness to a capacity to engage effectively in the war by 1917.